Trump Posts Faked Photo Of Him Giving Medal To Hero Dogby David Moye,HuffPost•October 31, 2019 A photo tweeted by Donald Trump on Wednesday is getting dogged by accusations that the pic is the very definition of fake news.The image shows the president putting a medal around the neck of a Belgian Malinois credited with helping to capture and kill so-called Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump AMERICAN HERO! 7:54 PM – Oct 30, 2019However, the photo didn’t really happen. Someone Photoshopped a picture of the hero dog over an Associated Press photo of 2017 Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan, according to The Washington Post.This side-by-side photo will show the similarities. James McCloughan, left, received a Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam War. (Photo: Alex Brandon via AP/Twitter/@realdonaldtrump)Although Trump tweeted the photo, it originated on the Instagram page of the conservative news outlet the Daily Wire.The hero dog has never been to the White House and is back on duty despite being injured by an electric cable during an explosion, according to U.S. Central Command.HuffPost reached out to the White House for comment on the decision to post a doctored photo, but no one immediately responded.McCloughan seemed OK with being photoshopped out of a pic in order to honor the dog’s heroism.The 73-year-old war hero told The New York Times that he interpreted the tweeted photo as the president recognizing the dog’s heroism and was not offended.Trump tweeted a photo of a Medal of Honor recipient — who was edited out and replaced by a dogPresident Trump tweeted a photo taken from a conservative news site that replaced an image of Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan with one of the dog he said ran down Islamic State leader Abu…washingtonpost.com 10:54 PM – Oct 30, 2019See „Never Trumper” Island Girl ‘s other TweetsTrump tweeted a photo of a Medal of Honor recipient — who was edited out and replaced by a dogPresident Trump tweeted a photo taken from a conservative news site that replaced an image of Medal of Honor recipient James McCloughan with one of the dog he said ran down Islamic State leader Abu…washingtonpost.com10:31 PM – Oct 30, 2019I’m so sick and tired of People saying Trump does not like Dogs. He’s owned lap dogs for years. A couple of Shitzus. 11:43 PM – Oct 30, 2019 He’s Leading A Fact-Free CampaignDespite pretending to offer something different from the tired-old ways of Washington, Trump has admitted that he’s more than willing to use dubious non-facts and statistics in an effort to further his White House ambitions.

Politics Congress Considers Delaying Spending Talks Until After Impeachment•October 30, 2019Congress Considers Delaying Spending Talks Until After Impeachment(Bloomberg) — Democrats and Republicans in Congress are deliberating whether to push the deadline to fund the government into early February to avoid having a budget fight amid an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump that’s set to stretch at least into December.That would mean enacting another stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown when the current short-term funding runs out Nov. 21, assuming the two sides don’t be able to agree on a budget plan by then.Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby, a Republican, has floated the idea of a stopgap spending bill until February, though he said Wednesday he hasn’t discussed it with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.“I think that’s a pretty realistic assessment of where we are today,” said Shelby of Alabama. “Miracles do happen but I haven’t seen a lot of them around here.”House Democrats on the Appropriations Committee are also weighing a February stopgap, lawmakers and aides say.Trump’s insistence on funding a wall on the southern border is again hanging over funding decisions in Congress, as Democrats and Republicans negotiate 12 annual spending bills. An impasse over the border wall led to a 35-day partial government shutdown early this year. After it ended, Trump used emergency powers to raid military construction accounts to fund the wall.Wall Money When Shelby floated the idea of a stopgap bill until February, he said impeachment would “take the oxygen” out of the Capitol. But Democratic Representative David Price, a member of the Appropriations panel, said Trump’s continued demand for money to build a border wall is the problem.“Shelby can blame impeachment all he wants but it is their allocations that is standing in the way,” Price of North Carolina said. “If not for this wall issue we could get this done tomorrow.”House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are said to oppose a long stopgap in order to try to force a spending deal sooner. Hoyer wrote to McConnell on Tuesday to urge immediate talks on spending.Republicans want to replenish the $7 billion in military funds that Trump redirected toward construction of the border wall, and Democrats say they won’t refill those accounts without provisions to guard against future shifting of funds. Senate Republicans also are seeking $5 billion in new money for the wall.This already delicate negotiation is further complicated by the impeachment process that has enraged Trump and heightened partisan acrimony on Capitol Hill.Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said Tuesday he was worried that Trump could use the Nov. 21 deadline to provoke a shutdown to distract from impeachment.”I’m increasingly worried that President Trump will want to shut down the government again because of impeachment,” Schumer said. “He always likes to create diversions.”Shutdown Fears Republicans and Democrats in Congress say they don’t want another government shutdown, although they also said that when government funding ran out at the end of 2018. The Senate and the House, both led by the GOP at the time, were on the brink of a deal in December when Trump persuaded House Republicans to hold out for wall funding.The House has already passed its 12 appropriations bills, and the Senate this week is on track to pass a package of four spending bills that would fund Interior and Environment; Commerce, Justice and Science; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and Agriculture. This Senate measure would need to be reconciled with the House versions to become law.The most important thing for spending committee leaders is to agree on the topline allocation of spending for all government agencies. Senate Democrats say they’ll block debate on the annual Defense spending bill, the top GOP priority, until they reach a deal on total allocations.“This week will bring a litmus test: are Washington Democrats so concerned by impeachment that they cannot even fund our men and women in uniform?” McConnell said Tuesday. “It’s hard to imagine a more basic legislative responsibility than funding the Department of Defense.”

–With assistance from Jack Fitzpatrick.To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Wasson in Washington at ewasson@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Laurie AsséoFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Disaster for Trump? What If the Philippines Became Russia’s Ally?

Why is the Philippines suddenly interested in buying Russian aircraft?

Not warplanes, but civilian planes for commercial purposes. Yet it suggests that Manila is eyeing a closer relationship with Moscow.

“There is an intention for finding Philippine partners that would probably bring in Russian jets into the country that could be used for tourism or disaster relief,” said Corazon Halili-Dichosa, executive director of the Philippine Board of Investments Industry Development Services, according to Russia’s Sputnik News. “Models that are being offered right now are Sukhoi, Be-200 and MS-21.”

„We think maybe the start for the Russian companies would be general aviation rather than the big commercial things, because the two [Philippine] air companies are right now [using] more Airbus and Boeing, but the general aviation is more open for other brands,” said Halili-Dichosa, who suggested that Russian-made aircraft could be used for charter flights between the numerous islands that comprise the Philippines.

This might seem just a minor commercial aviation deal. But what’s interesting is that the story ran in the defense section of Sputnik News, which hints that the Russian government—and cash-strapped Russian aircraft manufacturers—may be hoping to score some military contracts.

Indeed, Manila seems to be drawing closer to Moscow even as its relations with Washington have worsened. In March 2019, Russian and Philippine officials met to discuss a potential naval pact. In April, two Russian warships docked in Manila. The port visit included “joint drills on navigation and communication as well as special trainings with the quick response forces of the Philippines,” according to the Philippine government. It was the sixth visit of Russian warships, which was reciprocated by the first-ever Philippine Navy ship that sailed to Vladivostok in July for a naval parade marking Russian Navy Day.

“The White House, eager for a win as other drug-price initiatives have sputtered, is pushing Congress to compromise, but a plan in the Democratic-controlled House has become saddled with demands from progressives who say it doesn’t go far enough, and a bipartisan Senate bill is also on shaky ground, with some Republicans objecting to price controls.”

Progressive Democrats continue to push for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s drug plan to allow the government to negotiate prices on all drugs in Medicare rather than a subset of at least 35 and as many as 250 of the most expensive medicines. Their objections reportedly mean that a full House vote on Pelosi’s bill won’t take place until at least next month.

On the Senate side, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already said he won’t bring up Pelosi’s bill for a vote and a separate, bipartisan bill from Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden has run into opposition from some Republicans who object to what they see as government price controls. Vulnerable Republican incumbents up for reelection next year have mostly expressed concerns about the bill or declined to back it, The Hill reports. Those senators include Cory Gardner of Colorado, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Martha McSally of Arizona and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

“Senators who haven’t supported the bill are highlighting the bind they face,” The Hill’s peter Sullivan writes. “On the one hand, the bill has the support of President Trump, and lowering drug prices is a popular issue with voters. But on the other hand, supporting the bill breaks with GOP orthodoxy and invites a backlash from both conservatives and the pharmaceutical industry.”

The bottom line: If lawmakers can find a way come together on a legislative package, a Senate impeachment trial could still create timing and logistical challenges in trying to get anything passed. So the odds of Congress getting something done on drug prices this year is growing slimmer.

Turkey summons US ambassador, condemns US House resolutions

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey on Wednesday condemned two resolutions passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that symbolize deteriorating Turkish-American relations.

Addressing his ruling party, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wouldn’t recognize the nonbinding House resolution to recognize the century-old mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide. The bill passed 405-11.

Erdogan then said Turkey „strongly condemns” a bipartisan bill to sanction senior Turkish officials and its army for Turkey’s military incursion into northeastern Syria, which passed 403-16.

Both bills, passed Tuesday, were a sign of further deterioration in Turkish-American relations, which have been strained over multiple issues, especially U.S. support for Syrian Kurdish fighters who fought against Islamic State militants but who are considered terrorists by Ankara.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said it summoned U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield on Wednesday over the resolutions. The Turkish parliament condemned the bills.

Turkey disputes the description of mass deportations and killings of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as genocide and has lobbied against its recognition in the U.S. for years. It has instead called for a joint committee of historians to investigate the slayings.

„We are saddened that a slander against our country is being accepted by a country’s parliament,” he said and added, „we would consider this accusation the biggest insult towards our nation.”

The step to consider the events as genocide „does not count for anything,” Erdogan argued, saying American lawmakers had acted „opportunistically” to pass the bill at a time when Turkey is being widely criticized for its incursion into Syria.

Turkey’s cross-border military offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters, which Ankara says is necessary for its national security, began Oct. 9 after months of Turkish threats and a sudden decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw troops and abandon his Kurdish allies against the Islamic State group. Trump’s move was widely criticized by both Republicans and Democrats.

The second bill sanctioning Turkey shows the bipartisan disapproval of Trump’s decision and condemns Turkey’s offensive. The measure would bar most U.S. weapons sales to Turkey and slaps sanctions on foreigners attempting to send the Turks military equipment. It would also block high-ranking Turkish officials from their assets in the U.S. and restrict their travel.

Target’s Black Friday Sale Is Always a Hit With Shoppers. Here’s What to Know About This Year’s Best Deals

Target’s Black Friday Sale Is Always a Hit With Shoppers. Here’s What to Know About This Year’s Best Deals

You might have been surrounded by pumpkin spice everything and graveyard lawn ornaments the last time you made a Target run. But in terms of finding the absolute best deals at Target, we’ve already got our eyes on the prize: Black Friday.

Maybe because it’s our job, but we’ve already been asking: What are the best Black Friday deals at Target this year? Just like you, we’re still waiting to find out the specifics — but we can make some educated guesses based on all the Black Friday deals Target had last year.

We don’t know yet exactly when the Target Black Friday 2019 ad will be released, but over the past couple of years we’ve noticed that big-box stores like Walmart and Target are releasing their Black Friday ads when there’s still leftover Halloween candy on store shelves. (By the way, we also have guides for the best Black Friday deals at Walmart and Amazon you’ll want to check out.)

In 2018, Target publicized its Black Friday ad bright and early on November 1, when it also launched pre-Black Friday sales. Lots of people are already wondering, when does Black Friday start at Target? Well, if last year is any indication, the sales will start early. Target’s Black Friday store hours kicked off at 5 p.m. (local time) on Thanksgiving. Stores closed from 1 a.m. Friday and reopened again at 7 a.m.

We’re also still waiting to learn when Target Black Friday deals will be available online. Last year, deals were available starting Thanksgiving morning. And if you have a Target REDcard, Black Friday is likely to start even earlier. In 2018, REDcard holders could access some of the best Black Friday deals online starting at 3 a.m. Eastern Time the day before Thanksgiving.

Most retailers today now offer the vast majority of their “doorbusters” online, so we’ll keep you posted about the Target doorbusters — both in-store and at Target.com — as soon as we hear about them.

Based on what we observed during Black Friday 2018, here are our best guesses about what kinds of deals shoppers might be able to score here. As we learn more, we’ll update this post (bookmark it so you can come back and check) with all sort of details on Target’s best Black Friday deals.

Target Black Friday TV Deals

TVs are obviously a huge category, and the Target’s Black Friday TV deals last year were pretty impressive. We expect this year will be more of the same, with lots of deals on new models of smart TVs of all sizes. In 2018, shoppers could get a 65-inch Samsung curved smart TV for $899.99, or a 55-inch Samsung 4K smart TV for $399.99. Target also had an in-store deal on a 55-inch smart TV for just $199.99. In addition to TV deals, look out for discounts on soundbars, as well.

Courtesy of Target

Target Black Friday Electronics Deals

There were some great markdowns on tablets last year at Target. Black Friday iPad deals included $80 off all 6th generation iPads. There also was a Target Chromebook doorbuster on a 12-inch HP model for $119.99 — $80 off.

Courtesy of Target | Apple iPad

As we noted with other retailers, smart speakers were a popular category for Black Friday deals last year, with the Amazon Echo Dot marked down from $49.99 to $24, and the second-generation Echo smart speaker with $30 off for a price of $69. As Amazon looks to defend its smarthome turf, this category is likely to have deep discounts for Black Friday 2019.

Wearables including smartwatches, fitness trackers and headphones figured prominently in Target’s Black Friday offerings last year. Both in-ear and over-the-ear wireless Beats headphones were more than $100 off their respective regular prices, and the FitBit Versa smartwatch was $50 off the regular price of $199.95. These are two categories where shoppers can expect to see lots of deals this year, too.

Target Black Friday Toy Deals

We’re still waiting to see which toys will shake out as this season’s “must have” for kids, but we can tell without a doubt that video games and consoles will be hot. Last year, the Target Black Friday PS4 deal was a bundle including the PlayStation 4 console, with one wireless controller and Spider-Man game for $199.99 — a $100 discount — along with discounts on popular games like “Call of Duty: Black Ops.” This year, we’ll be on the lookout for any Xbox One and Nintendo Switch deals, too.

Target Black Friday Home Deals

Target really brings it home (no pun intended) when it comes to small appliances and housewares. Last year’s deals included the six-quart Instant Pot DUO60 for $30 off the regular $99.95 price, and Target threw in a $10 gift card. If you shop at Target often, it’s worth keeping your eyes out for these kinds of promos. Since many retailers price-match popular items, a Black Friday promo code or gift card can make a deal more valuable for frequent shoppers.

Courtesy of Target

Other kitchen gadgets had even deeper discounts, like a KitchenAid five-quart stand mixer on sale for just $219.99 — just over half off the regular price of $449.99 — and a 2.4-quart air fryer for half off the regular $99.99 price.

Robotic vacuums are a popular home goods category, so we’ll be on the lookout for deals from Roomba or Shark. Cordless and stick vacuums are likely to be on sale, too — you might see Shark or Dyson Black Friday deals. Last year, for instance, Target had a Shark Navigator vacuum (which is now sold out — this model is similar) half off the regular $299.99 price.

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